The End of First Love - Chapter 24

“Lord Heinz, you truly are a strategist.”

After the swordsmanship tournament ended, Heinz was taken away to the Schwein Duke’s carriage, and now they were here. Seated across from him, Elizabeth made her remark, but Heinz, ever composed, simply smiled.

“Hmm? What do you mean? If it’s about the tournament’s outcome, I had nothing to do with it.”

“That’s true. Your match with Lord Louis ended in a draw, after all.”

“Yes. Louis probably didn’t want to disgrace himself in front of Lady Iris.”

“It was quite an intense match. The audience was in an uproar.”

“Haha, is it just my imagination, or does it sound like you didn’t watch the match?”

“Fufu, indeed. I didn’t watch it. I was too busy enjoying a moment of female camaraderie.”

“Hahaha, that’s hilarious.”

Watching Heinz lower his gaze and chuckle, Elizabeth felt certain that her suspicions were correct.

“I heard from Lady Iris. She told me that your swordsmanship is on par with Lord Louis’s. That’s not common knowledge, is it? Yet, you appeared in such light armor—it startled me. Were you hoping to make me worry?”

“Who knows?”

“Or perhaps you wanted to win in style and receive my praise?”

“Well, I certainly wanted to avoid losing disgracefully. Since I was up against Louis, I knew our swordplay and habits well—it would make for a good match. However, I miscalculated one thing… Louis was stronger than I expected. Before I knew it, we were both giving it our all.”

“I see…”

“But it’s truly a shame you missed it. I was hoping to impress you, Elizabeth.”

He really is a strategist.

Iris hadn’t known that Louis’s opponent was Heinz. That struck Elizabeth as odd.

The Earl and Countess of Betty were known to be a close couple—there was no way Iris wouldn’t know who her husband was up against.

That meant Louis had been asked to keep quiet. And if Heinz did that just to make Iris angry, then his true intentions were becoming clear.

(He orchestrated everything to erase any distrust among us friends. But what if I hadn’t figured it out?)

If she hadn’t realized the truth, Heinz could have been labeled as a scheming man who used Louis for his own gain.

(No… Looking at his smile now, I think he wouldn’t have minded if that happened.)

Everything had been set in motion the moment Elizabeth received the invitation.

Miranda and Iris being in the VIP room. Heinz showing up in light armor.

He had deliberately unsettled Elizabeth, who didn’t know his true skill, and enraged Iris, who was unaware of Louis’s opponent. By drawing out Iris’s resentment toward him, he cleared any lingering doubts among their group of friends.

(Everything played out just as Heinz planned. And in the end, we three reaffirmed our friendship.)

Was he still concerned about that night?

“Lord Heinz, female friendship is eternal.”

“Fufu… That’s good to hear.”

Heinz smiled—a bright, innocent smile, like a child successfully pulling off a prank.

(Seeing that smile, how could my heart not flutter?)

“Lord Heinz… thank you.”

“Elizabeth, you’ve realized it, haven’t you?”

He widened his eyes at her words, making Elizabeth feel a sense of triumph.

(I won’t always be the one dancing in your palm.)

“Fufu, I wonder what you mean? More importantly, where are we going now?”

“Haha, you’re sharp, Elizabeth. Well then, my lady, I shall escort you to the Schwein Ducal Estate.”

“What!? The Schwein Ducal Estate?”

Elizabeth had assumed she would be taken back to the Baker Ducal Estate, so Heinz’s words caught her off guard.

“Do you dislike the idea, Elizabeth?”

He reached out and gently grasped her hand, his deep, dark eyes narrowing as he looked at her pleadingly.

The moment she locked eyes with him, time seemed to stop.

That piercing gaze melted her thoughts away, as if none of it mattered anymore.

“Elizabeth… is it really no good?”

The rapid thumping of her heart drowned out any warning signals in her head. Before she knew it, she had given a small nod.